This year’s lineup includes over 30 selections from 11 countries, 8 directorial debuts, 5 east coast premieres, a competition screening shorts from GMU film studies students, and several award-winning films out of Tribeca, Berlinale, Sundance and SXSW.

On October 13 at 6:00 pm, Washington West will debut a new experience called “Short Film Friday” which will include two thematically complementary programs including shorts from Paul Feig, starring Kate Flannery, as well as several directorial debuts and Oscar contending shorts. Dinner, dessert and a drink are included in the ticket price.

Closing night will showcase one of the most provocative documentaries of the season, This is Not Financial Advice, which explores the volatile cryptocurrency market through the rollercoaster story of internet legend “The Dogecoin Millionaire”. This screening includes a Q + A panel with Senay Kenfe from the film and an activist for Black financial empowerment.

According to a release, “the Washington West Film Festival, named the #2 film festival in North America by USA Today’s 10Best poll, has built an international reputation among film festivals based not only on its impressive list of films and accompanying special events, but also for its unyielding premise that “Story Can Change the World.”  Each year, Washington West donates 100% of its box-office net proceeds to charitable projects and causes that aid children who struggle with hunger, illness, or access to education. This extends the festival’s reach to use the power of story to effect positive change around the world.

Previous year programming has included films produced by Ava DuVernay, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, HBO, Universal Pictures, and Walt Disney Studios. The festival has hosted Q&A sessions with the legendary Academy Award-winning Robert Duvall, Pulitzer Prize-winning Ron Suskind (Life, Animated), nine-time Emmy Award-winning Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep, Seinfeld), Hollywood producer Bruce Cohen (Silver Linings Playbook, American Beauty), Academy Award-nominated cinematographer Bradford Young (Arrival, Selma, Solo: A Star Wars Story), Academy Award-winning actor and musician Common, multi Grammy Award-winning record producer Clive Davis, Award-winning Modern Family actor Ty Burrell, Lauren Graham of Gilmore Girls, Arrested Development’s Tony Hale and seven-time Emmy winning actor Ed Asner.

More here.

PHOTO: Washington West Film Festival